Floor roller construction



May 3,1949. H. 0. DE BOER FLOOR ROLLER CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 9, 1944 Patented May 3, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLOOR ROLLER CONSTRUCTION Herman 0. De Boer, Lombard, Ill.

Application October 9, 1944, Serial No. 557,786

12 Claims.

The invention relates generally to vehicles of the type that may be used either as a hearse or an ambulance and more particularly to a floor roller construction utilized in the floor of a vehicle of this. character.

The general'object ofthe invention is to provide a novel floor roller. construction in which the roller. is adapted to be moved to an operative position slightly raised .above the level of the floor or team inoperative position below the level of the'fioor. with acover plate. providing a closure for the aperture throughwhich the roller moves, the roller. being firmly supported when raised'and the cover plate providing a solid-portion of the floor. when the roller is depressed.

Another objectis to provide a novel'floor roller construction which is simple in structure so that itmay be inexpensively manufactured and which moves. automatically from its depressed inoperative. position to its raised'operative position upon sliding the cover plate tov its open position.

A further object is to provide a novel floor roller constructionwhich has a, total height'only slightly more than the diameter of the roller so that it will notiproje'ct any great distance below.

the top surface of thefloor, and'in which, when the roller is in depressedposition, the cover plate lies substantially flush with the floor covering or carpeting adjacent thereto.

Still another object is. to provide a nove1.fioor' roller: construction in which'the' cover pIateLmay' be easily shifted manually between'its two positions'when" the roller israisedor lowered, and is. releasably held in such positions so that the roller is "'prevented'from 'b'eing inadvertenly' shifted from the desired'position.

A still further objectis to provide a'novel floor roller construction inth'e form of a' selfecontained unit-adaptedto be secured in place in an aperturein the floor by means of screwsapplied from thetop; the-construction being closedatits undersid'egand the'aperture in "the uoor being closed,

therebyto preventaccess ofdirt'or grease from under the vehicleeither tothe structured the device or to the interior of the vehicle.

Otherob'jectsof-theinvention will become apparentfrom thefollowingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. in which:

Figure 1 is-a perspectiveview of the inside of a vehicle provided with a floor roller construction embodyimg the features of the invention.-

Fi'g; 2 is'a plan view on anenla-rged scale of the new roller structure showrrin Fig; I.

Fig;- 3"isa"transversesectional view taken. on

2 the line 3--3 of Fig. 2 and showing the roller in its raised position.

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 but showing the'roller in its depressed or lowered position.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view similarto Fig. 2 but with parts'broken away to show the interior. construction.

It is common practice for undertakers to supply private ambulance service. In large citieswhere the demands for both a hearse and an ambulance' are frequent, an undertaker is warranted in purchasing two vehicles, one of each kind. However, in smaller communities the demand is not sufficient to warrant such an expenditure, and one vehicle is provided, which is so con structed that it may serve both purposes.

When the vehicle is used as a hearse, the floor thereof is usually provided with rollers to enable the casket to be easily moved into position within the vehicle. When the vehicle is to be used as an ambulance such rollersare not used. and hereto fore a false floor has been provided to cover the rollers. However, the use of such a false floor reduces "the head room in the vehicle, and at the time the vehicle is being used as an ambulance; a maximum head room is desired.

The present invention provides a floor roller construction in which-the rollers are adapted to be moved from a position below the level of the floor to a position where. they project slightly above the floor, and the support for the rollers is so constructed that it lies substantially flush with the carpeting covering the floor. Thus, rollers are available when the vehicle is utilized'asa hearse and when utilized as an ambulance the maximum head room is provided.

As shown in the drawings, my floor roller construction comprises a body structure i0 having rectangular side walls H extending downwardly through an aperture I2 in the floor, the latter be ing indicated at l3. Extendin outwardly from the upper edge of the side walls I I is a horizontal flange I 4 adapted to lie flat against the upper face of the floor and to be secured thereto a's'by screws IS. The flange i4 is provided with an'aperture l6 located centrally of the body structure and within the area defined by the side walls ll.

Mounted within the body structure lll is a roller 20' provided with trunnions 2| at each end rotatably mounted'in a generally rectangular carrier frame 22. The frame 22 is pivotally mounted within the body structure so that it may swing from a position where the roller 20 lies below the flange i l to a position where the roller projects above said flange. To this end the carrier frame 22 is pivotally supported by pins 23 extending inwardly from the ends of the body structure on an axis parallel to the roller axis and located at one side thereof. In other words, the axis of the pivot pins 23 is located within the body structure in and extends adjacent one edge of the carrier frame 22 so that movement of the roller between its two positions is tively small angular movement of the carrier frame 22. To provide for full support of the pivot pins 23, inwardly extending lugs are formed on the rear wall l of the body structure to support the pins closely adjacent the ends of the carrier frame.

The carrier frame 22 is adapted to be swung automatically to its raised position by spring means comprising a pair of torsion springs 25 mounted on the pivot pins 23 and having one end abutting the rear wall of the body structure and the other end engaging pin or boss 23 extending outwardly from the carrier frame adjacent the free edge thereof. Thus the torsion springs 25 tends to shift the roller 2% upwardly into operative position.

In order to hold the roller in its lowered position and to close the opening it in the top of the body structure, a cover plate 36 is provided which is slidably supported by the flange id of the body structure. For this purpose the flange lilalong the front side of the body structure has a depression 3| therein in which the cover plate is mounted and in which the cover plate is supported for its sliding movement. To guide the cover plate 39 in its movement, the end edges 32 (see Fig. 5) of the aperture to are bevelled downwardly and the cover plate is correspondingly bevelled on its edges to hold the cover plate in position in the depressed portion in the flange M. The cover plate 38 when in its closed position as illustrated in Fig. 4 overlies the roller and carrier frame and holds them in their depressed position.

- The cover plate serves the further function of acting as a support for the carrier frame when the latter is in its raised position. Thusthe front or free edge of the carrier frame 22 is provided with a notch 33 (see Figs. 3 and 4) adapted to seat on the edge of the cover plate when the roller is in its raised position. When the cover plate 39 is shifted from its closed position toward its open position it is first moved to the full ex tremity of its movement, which permits the car rier frame to automatically rise under the action of the springs 25. The cover plate 3B is then moved back a slight distance to engage the edge thereof in the notch 33. Thus the carrier frame, when the roller 29 is in operative position and adapted to carry a load, is supported both at its rear edge by the pivot pins 23 and at its front edge by the cover plate 39.

The cover plate is adapted to be limited in its opening movement so that it cannot be fully withdrawn from the depressed portion 3% of the body structure in normal operation. To this end a pair of slots 34 (see Figs. 2 and 6) are cut in the depressed portion 3! in the direction of movement of the cover plate, and countersunk screws 35 are mounted in the cover plate to engage in the slots 34 and thus limit the sliding movement of the cover plate in its opening direction.

; The cover plate 39 is also adapted to be releasably retained in its closed position and in its effected by a rela position for supporting the carrier frame so that it cannot be jarred out of supporting position for the carrier frame or inadvertently opened to permit the roller to rise. For this purpose the body structure is provided with a boss 36 in which is mounted a spring-pressed ball 31 adapted to engage in indentations 38 formed on the bottom face of the cover plate for its two positions. Thus the spring-pressed ball 31 will hold the cover plate against being inadvertently shifted from the desired position.

In order to prevent dirt or grease from being thrown upwardly into the body structure or through the aperture IB into the body of the vehicle, the body structure It] with its side walls l is of box-like form and is provided with a bottom wall 49 which preferably is made removable by being longitudinally slidable on the body structure. The bottom wall 46 thus may be readily removed to clean out any collection of dirt within the device. The cover plate 39 may be provided with a notch M adjacent its outer edge in which the finger may be inserted to facilitate movement thereof.

In a vehicle of this character, preferably a plurality of rollers are utilized. In the present instance, two rows, each consisting of five rollers, are employed. When the vehicle is to be used as a hearse, the cover plates 30 of the devices are shifted to their open positions and the rollers are automatically swung into operative position. The cover plates are then pushed slightly backwards to engage the notches 33 in the carrier frames. Thus the rollers are in operative position and are adquately supported to provide for easy movement of a casket into the body of the vehicle.

When the vehicle is to be used as an ambulance, the cover plates are shifted to their fully opened position to release the carrier frames and the rollers and frames are then pushed downwardly while the cover plate is moved toward its closed position. In this connection it will be noted that the front or free edge of the carrier frame is curved, as at 42, on an arc conforming generally to the curvature of the roller 20. Thus, by pushing the cover plate towards its closed position, the latter will effect a camming action with the curved surface 42 and the roller to force the carrier frame roller into its lowered position. When fully closed, the cover plate provides a smooth surface conforming generally to the level of the floor of the vehicle, which surface is substantially at the level of the carpeting usually placed on the floor of a vehicle of this character. Thus the floor roller shown herein provides the maximum head room within the vehicle when the latter is used as an ambulance.

The body structure W has a depth only slightly greater than the diameter of the roll since it need be only slightly deeper than the height of the roll and its carrier frame when the latter is in its lowered position. Thus the device does not project any material distance below the floor of the vehicle to interfere with any of the running gear thereof.

I claim:

1. A floor roller construction for use in a vehicle of the class described comprising a body structure adapted to be mounted in the floor of the vehicle, a carrier frame pivoted within said body structure, a roller mounted in said carrier frame on an axis parallel to the pivotal axis of said frame, and a cover plate slidably mounted on said body structure-and: engageable..withsaid:

carrier frame when in one positionv to hold said:

ear-rier frame and roller against movement-thereof and adapted when in-another position to permit. the roller to project above the top of said body structure and toprevent the roller from being depressed.

2. A floor roller construction comprising a body structure having an opening in its top, a carrier frame pivotally mounted within said body structure on a,horiz ontal axis, a roller rotatably mounted in said carrier frame, spring means tending to swing said carrier frame from a positionwherethe roller. is below the top ofthe bo y u ure to-a position wheretheroller. projects abovesaidtop, and acover plate for aidr penr ing carried by said body structure s pa ate fr m said carrier frame and engageable, with said carrier frame when in its closed position to hold the roller below the top of'said body structure and engaging theocarrier frame when in its open position to support said carrier frame with the roller projecting above the top of said body structure.

3. A floor roller construction comprising a body structure having an opening in its top, a carrier frame pivoted in said body structure on a horizontal axis, a roller mounted in said carrier frame on an axis parallel to the pivotal axis of said carrier frame, spring means coacting with said body structure and said carrier frame for urging said frame and said roller from a position below the top of said body structure to a position where the roller projects above said body structure, and a cover plate for said opening engageable with the carrier frame adjacent its pivotal axis when in its closed position to hold the roller in its lower position and with one edge of the carrier frame when in its open position to support the roller in its raised position.

4. A floor roller construction comprising a body structure having an opening in its top, a carrier frame pivoted in said body structure on a horizontal axis adjacent one edge of said carrier frame, a roller mounted in said carrier frame, spring means tending to swing said carrier frame and said roller from a position below the top of said body structure to a position where the roller projects above said body structure, and a slidable cover plate for said openinng engageable with said frame when in its closed position to hold the roller in its lower position and engageable with the opposite edge of the carrier frame when in its open position to support the frame in its raised position.

5. A floor roller construction comprising a body structure having a central opening and a horizontal flange around the perimeter of said opening with a depression in said flange along one side of said opening, a roller, a carrier frame for said roller horizontally pivoted within said body structure and adapted to swing the roller from a position below said flange upwardly through said opening to project above said flange, and a cover plate slidably mounted in said depression and adapted when open to support said carrier frame along one edge thereof.

6. A floor roller construction comprising a body structure having a central opening and a horizontal flange around the perimeter of said opening with a depression in said flange along one side of said opening, a roller, 2, carrier frame for said roller horizontally pivoted within said body structure and adapted to swing the roller from a position below said flange upwardly through saidzopening to; project above'saidflanee; .QLGQ QXE plate slidably mounted in said; depressionw.

d p h n p n to support said carrierifram along one edge thereof, and stop meansini eidi depression forslimiting theopening movement ofr saidcoverplate;

7: Anfloor roller construction comprising a bodye structure, a carrier frame,,a pair; of DiYOtS fQIZ' swingably: su porting said. car ier: framewin: said bodystmcture, said carrier-frame including-atmll-err a pair ofltorsien. springsv mounted :on: said ;.pivots.- and tending to swing said carrier frame from: a; position where the roller isbeloW-the-top of gthebocly structure to a position Wherethe roller .p rp jects above said top, anda cover plate mounted on saidbody structure and enga eable iwithcsaid; carrier framev to swing it downwardlyagainst the actionof said :torsion springs.

8'. Ardour/roller construction comprisingaibedy; structure,- a carrier frame pivotally mounted in said? body. structure, a roller mounted: insaid' carrier frame, spring means tending to swing said carrier frame from a position where the roller is below the top of the body structure to a position where the roller projects above said top, and a shiftable cover plate for said body structure adapted when in its closed position to hold the carrier frame in its lower position against the action of said spring means whereby movement of the cover plate to its open position permits said carrier frame to swing upwardly by the action of said spring means.

9. A floor roller construction comprising a body structure, a carrier frame pivoted in said body structure on an axis extending adjacent one edge of the carrier frame, a roller mounted in said carrier frame, spring means tending to swing said carrier frame from a position where the roller is below the top of said body structure to a, position where the roller projects above said carrier frame, and a slidable cover plate for the top of said body structure, the free edge of said carrier frame being curved on an arc conforming generally to the curvature of the roller whereby said cover plate in moving toward its closed position engages said curved edge and the roller to cam the carrier frame downwardly.

0. A floor roller construction comprising a body structure, a carrier frame pivoted in said body structure, a roller mounted in said carrier frame and adapted to be shifted from a position below the top of said body structure to a position projecting above said top, a cover plate mounted on said body structure independently of said carrier frame and engageable with said carrier frame to support said carrier frame when in its open position, and a spring-pressed retainer engaging said cover plate for releasably holding said cover plate in its open and closed positions.

11. A floor roller construction comprising a box-like structure having side walls, end walls, a bottom wall, and an open top .portion, said body structure being mountable in a floor opening, a roller support pivotally mounted within said body structure on a horizontal axis below said open top portion, a roller rotatably mounted in said support on an axis parallel to said firstmentioned axis, said roller support being swingable from a depressed position below said open top portion to an elevated position in which said roller and a portion of said roller support project upwardly from said body structure through said open top portion, and a retainer disposed above said body structure adjacent said open top portion and engageable with the upwardly project-- ing portion of said support for holding said roller in elevated position.

12. A floor roller construction comprising a boxlike body structure having elongated side walls, end walls, a bottom wall, and an open top portion, said body structure being mountable in a floor opening, a generally rectangular carrier frame having a pair of oppositely disposed elongated sides, transverse end portions, and an elongated central opening, said frame being pivotally mounted within said body structure on a horizontal axis adjacent one of the elongated sides of said frame and adjacent one of said elongated side walls of said body structure, a roller rot atably mounted on a horizontal axis within said central opening of said frame, said frame being swingable from a depressed position below said open top portion to an elevated position in which said roller and the other of the elongated sides of said frame project upwardly from said body structure through the open top portion thereof,

8 and a retainer shiftably disposed above said body structure adjacent said open top portion and engageable with said other elongated side of said frame for holding said frame and roller in elevated position.

HERMAN 0. DE BOER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 521,647 Edwards June 19, 1894 2,173,298 Gravenstine Sept. 19, 1939 2,347,002 Schofield Apr. 18, 1944 2,360,133 Houssiere Oct. 10, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 278,830 Great Britain Oct. 20, 1927 

